Lhermitte Sign (Is that how it is spelled? ha)

jaylene19

I am 23 and have recently been treated for a recurrence of salivary gland cancer. I have had four surgeries, and have recently finished radiation. About a month following treatment I noticed a tingling sensation through my legs why I put my head down. The docs say it is a rare condition sometimes related to radiation to the neck. They can't believe I show these signs though, since I had radiation to only one side. Sometimes I feel like my legs will give out when I put my head down. Feels like an electric shock through my legs. Anyone else with this unusual complication? When does it go away?

davecr

Jaylene,

I had radiation therapy in my neck for squamous cell carcinoma. I noticed the same thing about 4 months after my treatment. It scared me to death. I thought soemthing was really wrong. My doctors didn't seem too surprised or concerned and said it should go away in a couple of months. I don't think it's quite as rare as your docs seem to think. Anyway, It's been about 18 months since the radiation and I can still barely feel the tingling when I look down sometimes. So it does go away but we are all different enough that I doubt that anyone can really say how long it will take for you.

Take care,
David